Fantastic Fiction

Fantastic Fiction is a web site that any and all lovers of books should know about.  Very rarely have I not found a book on this web site.   I e-mailed them about the missing books (o.k. only twice) then I went back a few weeks later and there  it was.  I can not say enough good things about this site. 
You can look books up by author, title or keyword.  Once you found said author or book it gets even better.  on the author page is a brief bio of the writer and then all the books that person has written, in order , with publish dates after each title.  No more trying to figure out if the book in your hand is the third in the series or the fifth (gods I hate that).  At the top of the page are the release dates, titles, and names of new books the author has coming out in soft or hard copy. Fantastic Fiction is a U.K. website so sometimes the release dates for the U.S. or other places differ, but at least we have a general idea when to look for our books. 
So you found your author and now you click on a book title and find yourself on the books page.  Here you will find a description of the book, links to purchase the book and info telling you which series the book is in and which number it is in the series.
NOW FOR THE BEST PART.....
You have finished a series and really liked it ....ALOT.....at the bottom of each authors page is a list of books that author recommends.  AND, a list titled "Visitors to this page also looked at these authors", basically similar style and genre writers.
If you look at the bottom of a page for a book you will see a list that says if you liked this book them you might also like to read these books.  which are all then links to their pages where you can read a discription.

I have found more books this way then I can tell you.
my only complaint about Fantastic Fiction is that they do not list which books can be purchased in Audio.
If you are reader then this is a site you need to have in your bookmarks

Audio Books

I Love Audio Books.  This is what I listen to when I am working in the studio, cleaning the house, driving the car, knitting.   The funny thing is I hate to listen to books I have not read first.  This is mainly because if I walk out of hearing range it is O.K. if I miss something.  I know the story, I have read it.  In fact a sure sign that I found a book that I think is excellent is that I go and get an Audio Copy of it.  I use to read books several times (and some I still do)  but mainly I just listen to them over and over.  Another thing I love about audio books is that when you have someone read a book to you different parts of the story pop out at you then when you read them.  I also enjoy listening to the last published book just before I read the new published book to get back into that world and reintroduce myself to the people in the story. 
My biggest frustration with audio books is that there are not more of them.  Or at least not in the books I want to hear.  I realize this is a financial decision from the publishers side of things, but from a readers it gets frustrating.  The other thing that bothers me is purchasing them.  I always get redirected back to Audio.com and I can not stand, O.K. HATE businesses that MAKE you buy stuff.  If I want to buy 5 books a month I will, If  I want to buy only this one then let me do it and quit trying to rope me into some kind of agreement that I am just going to have to go cancel tomorrow!!!
Any Ways the last real benefit is that my husband gets to then hear these stories and know what I am talking about.  He is not a big book reader like I am (more mags and periodicals) but he does like a good story.  Many a time he will say leave it on when I am going to turn it off or say turn it up.  He of course will deny this, and we will let him.

Auditory Processing Disorder

I think I will be adding a page to the left designated to APD.  this is a disability that I have and that my son has.  APD is NOT part of the autism spectrum. though you help both APD and Autism is very similar ways.  APD is difficulty processing sound which can then lead to extreme sensory issues (sesitive to sound, light and touch).  where Autism is both sensory issues and social issues (difficulty understanding, communicating, empathizing, or sympathizing with others).  the only social issues that someone with APD has is in the frustration and confussion that is created by not being able to "hear" (process) what others are saying.  So really no more social issues then someone who is deaf.  Attached is a link to a blog of someone with APD and a professional writer.  she does an amazing job explaining what it is like.  I am adding her blog to my list

/http://qw88nb88.wordpress.com/living-with-auditory-processing-disorder/

Masques

Right now I am reading Masques by Patricia Briggs.  This is her first published work that has been reprinted because of the success of her other series "Mercy Thompson" (a must read, more later on that). In the beginning of the book she writes a short letter letting us know that it is not the best she has done.  I have to agree, but I don't think it is as all bad as she perceives it to be.  I have read and enjoyed books way worst then this one.  It is a Si-Fi book which you will soon learn is the bulk of what I read. It does not make my OH  MY you have to read list.  but it does reach my I am waiting for the book I really want to read so this will keep me happy list. The story is straight forward with no real surprises.  I knew who felt what, I knew who was who in disguise, I knew where things where hidden and who was helping who right from the start, without being told. (I also always know who's going to die in movies, and who did "it" in t.v. show, so take that into account). There are no major twist or turns.  However the main characters are full, vivacious, and with depth.  They pop out of the story and carry the plot line and don't leave you disappointed with the outcome.  This ability to make 4D individuals that become a part of your thoughts and lexicons is one of Patricia greatest strengths.(in my not so important opinion)  It has been a pleasure to go back and discover that Patricia has always been good at character building and to see how she has grown from making believable main characters to making believable everything (plot, time-lines, worlds, people, beasties, and cats).  Patricia has, 10 years later, written the follow up book to the Masque called Wolfsbane,  With Patricia's growth in her art I am anxiously waiting for it to be returned to the library so that I can check it out.

Give masques a read and let me know what you thought of it

a start

today I am starting a blog.  we will see if it lasts.  it is not for others to read as much as it is for me to share.  i am thinking of posting books i have read with reviews and the like. this is obviously self grandstanding and boring and oh so ......... but the point is to write. who knows where it will go.  who knows you may find a wonderful new book to read, or better yet you may tell me about a wonderful new book to read.  or maybe we will write a book.....yhea.  lets try blogging first, baby steps, baby steps.